The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-09-01
September /, 1887
Cameron's Views.

WHAT HE THINKS OF THE REPUBLICAN
COMNITTEES ADDRESS.
Ex-Governor William E. Cameron gran
ted an interview to the representatives of
the press in Petersburg, and bis views
were obtained in reference to the address
recently issued by the Republican State
Central Committee. Descending all pre-
liminarles, the interview began with the
Iequest that Governor Cameron should
give to the public his opinion OF the Re
publican address and its possible and prob
able effect upon the impending campaign
in the State.
AMMUNITION FOR LOCAL SPEAKERS.
Il do not think" said Governor Came
ron, ''any importance attaches to it which
does not telong to such documents gener-
ally. They are mostly intended TO furnish
ammunition for the local speakers of the
poli;i cal party to which they are addressed,
and this seems to serve that end measure
bly, well. particularly so in the arraigu-
ment made when comparing the results of
Democratic administration of the State
government with the Republican admins
tration which preceded it.
WHAT MAHoNE's ADDRESS FAILED IN.
The address is chiefly remal kable for the
absence of matter which some Republicans
at least, had hoped it might contain-nota-
bly,, in regard to the public debt. A mere
promise that the Republican party, if
called again to power, will proceed prompt
ly to such measures as will effect a final
disposition of the problem-withou5 any
formulation or even Indication OF the
methods by which so deSra lie an end is
to be reached no suggestion of way S
and means for the removal of the stern
difficulties which now beSet the scheme OF
funding contained in the act of 1882, seems
tome too vague to attract any large amount
OF public faith. or to gain any recruits from
the Democrats with their pledge of passive
adherence to
THE RIDDLEBERGER BILL.
1t is very true that to the Republican
party and the laws passed by it in 1882 and
1888 are cue. in my judgment, the credit
for having relieved Virginia from bank
ruptcy then present, and for having gwen
to the Treasury six years of comparative
immunity from invasion by the coupon,
thus making possible all that has been done
since by any Legislature or any Governor
in furtherance Of education, in care of the
lunatics, in execution of the laws. in pro-
vision for manned Confederate soldiers. or
in the creation of d sinking fund. The
Republicans found an empty treasury, a
heavy floating debt, and a condition of
things under which coupons absorbed
without resistance. much the larger por-
tion of the public revenues. They reduced
taxation; they paid off the floating debt !;
they restored to the public schools their
full quota of the revenues; they extended
and improved the accomm odations for the
insane; they gave vitality and impulse to
every branch of government. and in two
years turned over to Democratic Legis-
lature surplus in cash of more than
ST, 500, 900. All this was possible only as
a consequence of the Riddleberger bill.
But matters such as these have not much
force in the public mind unless the benefits
are continuing. A halt has been called +;
the wheels are clogged again. 1t may OF
may not be the fault or the misfortune of
the Democrats that the Riddleberger bill
has ceased to do the work. And with the